Shoulder decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his active military service.,There is no evidence of a current disability for the claimed left foot condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hand, cervical spine, and right shoulder/arm disorders are not related to his in-service injuries or symptoms.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a chronic rib condition or right shoulder condition, and thus denied his claims for service connection. The Board concluded that there is no evidence linking any current conditions to his service-connected residuals of fracture of left fibula head with DJD.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's arthritis of the knees and shoulders is related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board denied presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability warrants a 40 percent rating from April 9, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand disability, diagnosed as status post carpal tunnel syndrome release, is due to military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as a thoracolumbar spine disability, are denied. The Board finds that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to her active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, development of records, and consideration under certain legal provisions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including recurrent dislocation and limitation of motion, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with a 20 percent rating assigned for left knee degenerative joint disease and torn medial meniscus with slight instability. The right knee condition remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not service connected as it did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking the current condition to a service-connected disability.,There is insufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran has peripheral neuropathy in his left upper extremity. The VA examiner noted 'N/A (no specific diagnosis provided).'

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for limitation of motion to shoulder level. The Board found no evidence of more severe impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear and arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a present hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right eye disability did not have its clinical onset during service and is not related to any incident of service.,The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's low back disability was less likely than not related to his active military service, exposure to cold weather in service, or rigorous use of joints in military activities.

The Board has granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as gastritis) and found that the Veteran's right shoulder disability warrants a 10 percent initial rating. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for a left knee disability and service connection for a lumbar spine disorder are remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been caused by in-service herbicide exposure. The claims for bilateral cataracts, right eye blood clot, glaucoma, eczematous dermatitis, and left tinea pedis were also denied as they did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective the date of claim for an increase in February 29, 2008. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms have been manifested by complaints of pain and limited range of motion with some limitation of motion midway between side and shoulder level.